"While the show itself is challenging, I haven't found it challenging to work with my spouse. That's not to say that if we were total strangers, we couldn't do (these roles)," she said.

Fortunately, she added, the relationship between the murderous monarchs "is not at all like our marriage — thank God!"

First performed around 1606, "Macbeth" tells the story of a Scottish nobleman, spurred on by his wife and the prophecies of three witches, who murders King Duncan (Jim Hepworth) and becomes king himself, only to see his regime collapse in bloodshed, madness and rebellion.

Despite — or more likely because of — violent and occult aspects that gave the play a reputation for being cursed, "Macbeth" has been popular from its inception and inspired numerous stage and screen adaptations.

In theatrical circles, it is sometimes dubbed "The Scottish Play" because mentioning its name outside of an actual performance was thought to bring bad luck. But that didn't discourage the Thibodeaux-Thompsons from slating "Macbeth" as UIS' fall production this year.

"It plays very well into the Halloween season with its ghosts, witches, and horror," said Christopher V. Marbaniang, a graduate student who appears as Malcolm, Duncan's son and rightful heir.

Since this year marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death and UIS had not staged a Shakespeare play since "As You Like It" in 2009, the Thibodeaux-Thompsons thought it would be an appropriate time to produce another.

"We had done a comedy, so we thought, why not a tragedy," said Eric, associate professor and director of theater. "'Macbeth' has lots of good roles; it's also the shortest of Shakespeare's tragedies, and very action-packed."

The production is UIS' largest ever, with 22 actors in 34 roles, and features sets designed by assistant professor Dathan Powell. Guest crew members include Kincaid, professor of theater at Western Illinois University; fight choreographer D.C. Wright; and costume designer Katie Eickhoff.

Those involved in the production say the play's timeless appeal lies in its exploration of how far a person will go to realize a cherished ambition, and how much a person can alter their destiny.

Undergrad student Kathryn Sherman plays one of the witches who informs Macbeth that he will become king and that no one "of woman born" will defeat him.

"I play her as a combination of cackling crone and manipulative person," Sherman said.

By dangling the prospect of becoming king in front of him, she added, the witches "are basically telling Macbeth, 'here's a cookie — it might be poisoned, but it's delicious.'"

"Given the right circumstances, anyone is capable of anything," Missy said. "We like to think we could never do certain things, but that's not always the case."

Just as ordinary people may perform heroic actions they didn't think they were capable of — such as lifting a car off of an accident victim — they may also do horrific things they never imagined they would do, she said.

"You don't have to have killed a king to understand what ambition is," Eric added. "We have all done things we regret" in pursuit of a goal.

In contrast to the ruthless Macbeth, Malcolm — who flees Scotland after his father's murder and reluctantly returns to take back the throne — "is very grounded, very human" and not eager to grasp the reins of power, said Marbaniang.

"He is a different kind of king, a radical king, who doesn't want his subjects to bow down to him" but treats them as equals, he said.

In 2007, the Thibodeaux-Thompsons appeared together in "Two Rooms", playing an American hostage in Lebanon and his wife back home. Turning over the directing reins to a guest director and taking side by side acting roles was an experience they both enjoyed and wanted to do again.

"The relationship we've had for 20 years makes it easier for us to do (plays together), since we can work together on the nuts and bolts things" such as reading the script outside of their work time, Missy said. They also benefit from acting alongside their students and engaging them as fellow cast members instead of solely as instructors.

"I get to practice what I preach right in front of them," she said.

***

Macbeth

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday and Nov. 3-5, 2 p.m. Sunday and Nov. 6. A preview performance Thursday night at 7:30 is also open to the public, with admission on a cash-only, pay-what-you-can basis.

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